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TAMPA BAY • FEBRUARY 23-24 2026

This FINAL encore experience will be unlike any other. Because like everything we do, it's been "reimagined" from beginning to end. It's not a virtual or hybrid event. It's not a conference. It's not a seminar, a workshop, a meeting, or a symposium. And it's not your typical run-of-the-mill everyday event crammed with stages, keynote speeches, team-building exercises, PowerPoint presentations, and all the other conventional humdrum. Because it's up close & personal by design. Where conversation trumps presentation. And where authentic connection runs deep.

Alone this Holiday Week? The Tin Man Always Had a Heart

I lived alone through 10 long Minnesota winters. They were my boot camp for 2020 quarantine. I am not alone in my aloneness this holiday season – 28% of Americans live alone.

Through 2020, we’ve seen countless articles about loneliness. Loneliness has impacted nearly everyone in some way – singles, couples, families – from children through the elderly. The silver lining of COVID is that it’s OK to talk about it. People need people.

Proposed Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said in an interview, “Loneliness was the most common condition I encountered as a doctor.” He was referring to pre-Covid times.

“Dear Abby” and Dr. Murthy offer the same valuable advice for those feeling lonely. Help someone else. You ask, “What can I do stuck alone inside this wintry week?”

Think of the loneliest person you know and reach out to them. Ask how they are – really listen – make the conversation about treasuring them and how much they mean to you.

Savor those moments of connecting. Whether or not you feel loved and connected this holiday week, the Tin Man always had a heart – and so do you.

Wishing you a more connected 2021.

Lisa Cook
Lisa Cookhttp://www.planbconnections.com/index.html
Lisa Cook is on a mission to support and connect individuals living alone. Living in seven states, she has built new personal and professional networks throughout her career. In 2007, she moved to Minnesota, a uniquely challenging place to make friends. Long winter months alone hibernating inside were boot camp for Covid quarantine. Her deep dive into books to alleviate loneliness revealed a growing nationwide problem with no easy answers. Fast forward to 2020 and pandemic quarantines – increasing loneliness and a social recession are all over the news. Post-covid, there are still no easy answers. Lisa is still working on solutions. Lisa’s venture Plan B Connections links individuals - especially those living alone – through meaningful conversations and volunteerism. Her TEDx talk, “Living Alone, Living Connected,” highlights her efforts to build community in Minnesota. Plan B Connections was recognized by the Southwest Florida Blue Zones Project for enhancing healthy aging and featured in the book How We Live Now by Dr. Bella DePaulo. Lisa has a law degree and a master’s degree in education. A “Jill of many trades,” she has practiced law with the Federal government, launched an innovative online career center serving 50,000 students worldwide, delivered stress management training to government employees impacted by 9/11, and earned a Courage Coin working for the Red Cross on long-term hurricane recovery efforts. Nicknamed “Mother Terlisa” by a friend, Lisa continues to connect people in meaningful ways. She volunteers to teach strength fitness at her local senior center, makes weekly calls to an isolated senior, and runs a pet-sitting exchange to connect her neighbors. In 2025, she will earn her Master’s in Social Work to spend the rest of her career promoting social health and wellness. Her vision is for individuals living alone to feel supported by a community of friends for a friendly ear and a helping hand.

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